Former FWB hoops star Dyron Nix passes away at 46

Fort Walton Beach grad Dyron Nix is shown receiving "Team of the Century" honors at the University of Tennessee in 2009. Nix passed away Sunday at the age of 46.

By BRANDON WALKER / Daily News

Published: Sunday, December 15, 2013 at 11:41 PM.

Dyron Nix, a former standout basketball player at Fort Walton Beach and later the University of Tennessee, passed away on Sunday at the age of 46. According to reports, Nix died in Atlanta after battling pneumonia.

WATE of Knoxville confirmed Nix's passing Sunday night. Former Vol and Nix teammate Clarence Swearengen confirmed the death through a member of the Nix family.

Swearengen said Nix had gone to an Atlanta hospital complaining of breathing difficulty and died a short time later.

Nix was a standout player on the Tennessee basketball team from 1985-89. He became a fan favorite for his athletic style of play-- and was drafted by the NBA's Charlotte Hornets.

He was also a legend at Fort Walton Beach High School, where his No. 31 jersey still hangs in the Vikings' gymnasium. Word of Nix's death spready quickly on Sunday night. Former teammate John Lavin, FWB's current boys' basketball coach shared this message on Twitter: "Very sad to hear about my friend and HS teammate Dyron Nix who passed away this weekend. Reminder we are not promised tomorrow. RIP D!"

A three-time All-SEC performer, Nix led the Southeastern Conference in rebounding (10.1) as a sophomore, then paced the league in scoring (22.1) as a junior.

Nix was traded on draft day in 1989 to the Indiana Pacers. He played for one season with Indiana before embarking on a lengthy professional career in Europe.

Funeral arrangements are pending.Nix had been married to Shawn Moore, a track athlete he met at UT.

Their daughter, Cree, played basketball at Lipscomb University in Nashville and then at Illinois-Chicago.

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Dyron Nix, a former standout basketball player at Fort Walton Beach and later the University of Tennessee, passed away on Sunday at the age of 46. According to reports, Nix died in Atlanta after battling pneumonia.

WATE of Knoxville confirmed Nix's passing Sunday night. Former Vol and Nix teammate Clarence Swearengen confirmed the death through a member of the Nix family.

Swearengen said Nix had gone to an Atlanta hospital complaining of breathing difficulty and died a short time later.

Nix was a standout player on the Tennessee basketball team from 1985-89. He became a fan favorite for his athletic style of play-- and was drafted by the NBA's Charlotte Hornets.

He was also a legend at Fort Walton Beach High School, where his No. 31 jersey still hangs in the Vikings' gymnasium. Word of Nix's death spready quickly on Sunday night. Former teammate John Lavin, FWB's current boys' basketball coach shared this message on Twitter: "Very sad to hear about my friend and HS teammate Dyron Nix who passed away this weekend. Reminder we are not promised tomorrow. RIP D!"

A three-time All-SEC performer, Nix led the Southeastern Conference in rebounding (10.1) as a sophomore, then paced the league in scoring (22.1) as a junior.

Nix was traded on draft day in 1989 to the Indiana Pacers. He played for one season with Indiana before embarking on a lengthy professional career in Europe.

Funeral arrangements are pending.Nix had been married to Shawn Moore, a track athlete he met at UT.

Their daughter, Cree, played basketball at Lipscomb University in Nashville and then at Illinois-Chicago.